Vientiane, 12 December 2018 – The Government of Australia officially signed an agreement with UNDP on clearance of unexploded ordnance (UXO) in Sanamxay District in order to ensure the safety of resettled communities dislocated by the floods earlier this year.

Australia is contributing AUD 200,000 through UNDP to the Government of Lao PDR to carry out UXO clearance operations in Sanamxay District, Attapeu. This contribution is a component of Australia’s humanitarian assistance package of AUD 3million to support the government’s response to the flooding in Attapeu following the Xepian Xe Namnoy dam breach in July this year.

Implementation of the intervention by UXO Lao, the national clearance operator, with coordination and management by UNDP and financial support from the Government of Australia has started promptly after the impact of the floods on the UXO contaminated areas became apparent. 94 percent of villages in Lao PDR’s Southern province of Attapeu are contaminated by UXO. Large quantities of water and mud after the flash floods may have swept UXO to other locations. At the request of the Governor of Attapeu immediately after the flash floods, UXO Lao deployed an Explosive Ordnance Disposal team on standby for Sanamxay district.

As a result of a timely cooperation by UNDP and the Government of Australia, UXO Lao prioritized and fast-tracked survey and clearance tasks in Attapeu, moving UXO Lao clearance units from the neighboring provinces of Champassak, Salavan and Savannakhet and deploying five teams across Sanamxay District. Since mid-September, 44 hectares of land have been cleared in two villages of the district, where 16 cluster munition items and 18 other types of explosives were found, pointing to the existence of further UXO in the area and the hazard to the population. These five UXO Lao clearance teams are set to achieve their target of surveying and clearing a total of 57 hectares of land.

In addition to survey and clearance, UXO Lao also conducts risk education sessions in Attapeu Province. Immediate survey and additional community awareness activities are necessary in order to ensure the safety of communities returning to their homes or being resettled after the floods. A survey conducted all over the province before the floods which is yet to be completed found that at least 12,225 hectares are Confirmed Hazardous Areas, where the presence of UXO requires clearance.

On the occasion of the signing ceremony, Mr. Jean-Bernard Carrasco, Ambassador or Australia to the Lao PDR said: “The need to re-assess the UXO situation in Attapeu is very critical to ensure the affected people have access to safe land for their livelihoods along with other essential support. Australia’s support for UXO Lao in Attapeu builds on our many years of investment helping the Lao Government to tackle the challenge of UXOs and achieve its Sustainable Development Goal number 18.”

UNDP Resident Representative and UN Resident Coordinator, Ms. Kaarina Immonen said: “UNDP remains committed to assist in achieving SDG 18 on saving lives from UXO. Our UXO programme supports survey, clearance, risk education, victim assistance and coordination. We are pleased that we have been able to assist in Attapeu and other provinces across the country in fresh UXO clearance especially on account of the flood disaster.

The intervention is a prime example of highly responsive early recovery actions after a major disaster, where donors and development partners work hand in hand with the Government, in order to deliver on the promise of Lao PDR’s own national SDG 18: Lives safe from UXO.

Please read this press release in Lao

For more information, please contact:

Ms. Ildiko Hamos-Sohlo
Communications Specialist, UNDP Lao PDR
Tel: 020 7717 7913, Email: ildiko.hamos@one.un.org

Mr. Somlith Khounpaseuth
Communications Associate, UNDP Lao PDR 
Tel: 20 777 118 74, Email: somlith.khounpaseuth@undp.org